[CDKN2A gene mutation and loss of p16 protein activity in a patient on levodopa presenting sporadic multiple primary melanoma]. / Mutation du gène CDKN2A et perte d'activité de la protéine p16 chez un malade traité par L-Dopa et atteint de mélanomes sporadiques multiples.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma is a complex disease involving genetic and environmental factors. Levodopa has been incriminated in the development and/or progression of melanoma. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a man treated with levodopa and a dopadecarboxylase inhibitor for Parkinson's disease and presenting 22 cutaneous melanomas over a 4-year period. The patient is of phototype II and presents multiple nevi. Genetic analysis of predisposing genes demonstrated a CDKN2A mutation with loss of p16 activity. DISCUSSION: Multiple melanomas may be associated with genetic predisposition, and screening for the latter should be performed. The exceptionally high number of melanomas developed by our patient raised suspicions about levodopa, a precursor in melanin synthesis, as a potential inducer. Increased dermatologic controls and screening for predisposing genetic factors appear to us to be warranted in the event of melanoma development in patients on levodopa.

High level expression of human neuropeptide Y receptors in mammalian cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid peptide present in the central and peripheral nervous system. Numerous studies point to a role of NPY in cardiovascular regulation. NPY effects are mediated through stimulation of specific cell surface G protein-coupled receptors. To allow biochemical studies of the receptor and of its interaction with the ligand, we have developed a potent expression system for NPY receptors using a recombinant vaccinia virus. A human NPY receptor cDNA was fused to a strong vaccinia virus promoter and inserted into the viral genome by homologous recombination. Recombinant viruses were isolated and tested for their ability to induce NPY binding site expression following infection of mammalian cell lines. Using saturation and competition binding experiments we measured a Bmax of 5-10 x 10(6) NPY binding sites per cell. The Kd for the binding of NPY is about 20 nM. Labelling of infected cells with a fluorochrome-labelled NPY indicated that the recombinant protein integrates into the cell membrane.

Interleukin 2 receptor traffic in a murine cytolytic T cell line.

We have analyzed different parameters of the interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) traffic in a murine IL2-dependent T cell line, B6.1. These cells express about 10(5) IL2R, of which approximately 10% are of high affinity (HAR). About 90% of all mature immunoprecipitable receptor molecules in the cell are on the cell surface. Measurements of the half life and of the rate of receptor synthesis indicate that these cells produce approximately 500 receptor molecules per cell and min. IL2 deprival for less than 6 h does not affect this rate. B6.1 cells internalize IL2 via their HAR only, with a maximal rate of about 500 molecules per cell and min. Among the receptors present at a given time on the cell surface, about 15% are internalized within 30 min. Receptor internalization is independent of IL2. The data obtained argue against rapid recycling of the HAR. The rate of receptor synthesis can be reconciled with the rate of IL2 internalization and the observation that internalization occurs only via HAR by assuming that cell surface low-affinity receptors can be transformed into HAR by associating with other molecules.

Interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor enhance transcription from the SV40 early promoter in a T cell line.

Interleukin 1 (IL 1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) increase the expression of a number of T lymphocyte-specific genes in the T-cell hybrid PC60. We show here that human IL 1 alpha and 1 beta, mouse IL 1 alpha and mouse TNF-alpha strongly enhance expression of reporter genes transcribed from the SV40 early promoter in this cell line. We found that IL 1 and TNF each induce up to a 30-fold increase in the rate of transcription, resulting in a proportional increase of mRNA and protein levels. Induction with IL 1 and TNF is detectable after 1 h and reaches a plateau after about 15 h. Removal of these factors from the culture medium results in complete reversion. Induction with IL 1, but not with TNF, can be inhibited with an inhibitor of IL 1 binding. The effects of both factors are not impaired by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, suggesting that they stimulate expression from the SV40 early promoter by activation of preexisting transcription factors.

Control of IL-2 receptor-alpha expression by IL-1, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-2. Complex regulation via elements in the 5' flanking region.

We have analyzed the mechanisms by which IL-1, IL-2, and TNF regulate expression of IL-2R alpha chain in a rodent T cell line. All three cytokines induce detectable IL-2R alpha mRNA by themselves, but there is strong synergy between IL-1 or TNF, on the one hand, and IL-2, on the other. The earliest phase of induction by IL-1 is independent of protein synthesis. IL-1, but not TNF, also stimulates transient secretion of IL-2. This leads to an autocrine stimulation of a further increase in IL-2R alpha mRNA levels. When IL-2 secretion has dropped off, continued IL-2R alpha expression requires both IL-2 and IL-1. Most or all of this regulation is due to changes in the rate of transcription of the IL-2R alpha gene. The response to IL-1 and IL-2 depends on a segment in the IL-2R alpha 5' flanking region, upstream of all cis-acting regulatory elements previously identified in the human gene.